The mechanism of 3D crack growth in compression: The role of non-singular terms

Abstract

This paper presents results of a characterization procedure, based on back analysis, of a nonlinear deformation behavior of a discontinuous rock mass during excavation of a large underground power house cavern. The objective is to introduce the concept of isolating effects of nonlinear joint deformation to be back-analyzed from measured displacements and to demonstrate the effectiveness of this method for identifying strain distribution and deformational mechanism within a jointed rock mass.